Employment growth this year has been at its lowest rate in six years, while the long-term unemployment rate hit a two-year high, the Manpower Ministry’s latest labour report showed yesterday. Experts blamed expected restructuring plans amid a push towards productivity and weakening global demand.

The latest dengue fever figures show an unusual rise in year-end cases, with 361 reported last week. Cases normally peak around June and July, but the National Environment Agency said warmer than usual year-end weather caused by El Nino could result in shorter mosquito breeding periods and shorter incubation times for the dengue virus.

Getting a boost from its winning bid to build bullet trains for India, Japan has now set its sights on securing the contract to build a high-speed rail project between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Competition will be tough, with 14 companies and consortiums invited to present their ideas for the joint project by Malaysia and Singapore.

As its elderly population (photo) burgeons, Tokyo is running out of space to build nursing homes. Now, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to relocate his older constituents to the countryside. The government sees it as the best way of dealing with the increasing strain on urban healthcare systems and stagnant economies in rural Japan.

Volunteers and residents have formed a fast-response team to patrol parts of Yishun, where a number of cats have been killed since September. High-resolution cameras have also been installed around the neighbourhood.

City Developments (CDL) has structured another investment deal to unlock $1.1 billion from its real estate assets here, which will help is expansion abroad. It has set up an instrument linked to three of its office buildings - one in the Central Business District, one near the CBD and another in Tampines.

Local singer Kit Chan has become the first artist to sign to a major China record company, Taihe Music Group. It is due to her participation in popular televised contest I Am A Singer and the doors it has opened for her in China. Pre-production has started on her new album, which is slated for release next year.

Comedian Bill Cosby, who has been accused by more than 50 women of sexually assaulting them after plying them with drugs or alcohol, struck back on Monday against seven of the women, suing them for defamation and denying their allegations.

What it should have been

Yesterday's report "Orchard incidents 'likely due to heavy rainfall' " stated that professional engineers were appointed by the Building and Construction Authority to investigate two incidents on Orchard Road when the engineers were, in fact, appointed by the respective building owners as is required by law. We are sorry for the error.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 16, 2015, with the headline '(No headline) - 5SEHSR16'. Print Edition | Subscribe

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